Thyroid Problem, need help!

Hey All,

I am 27 and weigh 125 (on a good day).  This is very disappointing to me because just this Christmas I weighed 118.  I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid last year around this time.  Since Christmas I have gained so much weight, and I have no idea what do do now.  I decided to get a personal trainer, which obviously didn't help as I kept gaining weight.  I bought a treadmill and still nothing is helping.  I eat 1400 calories a day or less, and I work out every day.  I run at least a mile, do aerobics classes,  lift weights for my arms, and do abs.  It is so frustrating for me to wake up in the morning, step on the scale and see weight gain instead of loss after working so hard everyday.   I am a former pageant girl, used to being skinny and looking nice, so when I gain that much weight it makes me very unhappy. 

Does anyone have any suggestions of what to do better than I am already doing???  I am so depressed with my current weight!!!! 

Thanks :)

Are you taking any thyroid medication? I have a hypothyroidism as well, and actually had to get my removed because of suspicious cells. I had gained a ton of weight (to the tune of 60 pounds) over a few years and could not lose it for anything.

I've been on my medication for a couple weeks now, and noticed an immediate difference. Instead of working really hard at the gym and on my diet and only losing about a half pound, I started losing three a week.. (which I know is too much and I'm upping my caloric intake).

I've heard from a lot of people if you take your medication responsibly then you'll have a much easier time losing the weight.

Yes I take my medicine every morning.  I was recently on the birth control YAZ, but I thought maybe that was part of the problem (since I started it in Jan.) so I quit taking it three weeks ago.  I was hoping it would change the weight, but so far not changing.  I went to the doctor 2 months ago and had my thyroid checked, and she said it was ok....but I don't think so.  I made an appointment to go again tomorrow with another doctor.  It is so frustrating working so hard and not seeing any results. 

Thanks for the reply. 

If you still think something is wrong, I would recommend seeing an endocrinologist. They pay a lot more attention to symptoms and don't look at blood results alone.

Good luck!

you have only gained 7 pounds, thats not that bad. people with thyroid problems always have a tough time losing weight, watch your carb intake and keep it to veggies only, that should help. also eat lots of lean protein it will help to stimulate your metabolism and speed it up. I can say anything about your weights because you tell us anything but make sure you are working your legs also, it burns more calories

Thanks for the reply.

I know 7 pounds doesn't seem a lot to some people, but on a small framed person it does look and feel like a lot.  I am 5'5 so when I gain 5 pounds it is noticeable, much less 7 pounds.  Do you think watching my carbs will help more than watching my calories? 

I do squats and lunges, and run.  That is about all I do for my legs.  Any suggestions? 

My stomach used to be my best feature, now I always cover it up.  I do crunches and ab work everyday, but the lower part of my stomach is still not looking too hot, any suggestions there??

Thanks :) 

I will start counting my carbs as well! 

You may want to go see as many Endochronologist as you need to but allow the meds to work first. I went to 4 different Dr.'s and Endo's before I finally found the one that sent me to have mine removed...Thank God cause it was cancer and I lived with massive weight gain. I am 5'10 and it still showed a lot! I went from135 to 258 and feeling terrible for 10 years before it was removed. Now, I feel great and down 44 pounds in less than 6 months and now losing 2 1/2 to 3 pounds a week. I am much older than you though and if I had kept after the Dr.'s all those years, I would have had it removed a long time ago. The weight will come off as soon as your body balances out with the right meds. It is very frustrating but you caught it in real good time before you gained much more! Also give your body a break and shock it a little with some rest from exercise and maybe a day or two of extra calories. Best to you!

I have this same issue, at 5'2", I usually weigh 115-117 and I weighed that much in January and then within 2 months I gained 15 pounds. I went to get tested (blood test) and it came back with LDL choleterol being slightly elevated (125 normal is between 0-99) I started working out in January also. I dont believe that the 15 pounds is all from muscle gains and I am convinced that I have an underactive thyroid, because I am tired all the time, grumpy and ballooned. I talked to a dietician and she suggested that I go back and be tested again for T3 and T4 to cover all the bases, but I dont want to walk in the dr.s office and demand another blodd test. But Im starting to think that I should.